Process of purifying water.



No. 776,508. PATENTED DEC. 6, 1904. T. E. FULGHUM PROCESS OF PURIPYINGWATER;

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 17. 1904.

N0 MODEL.

Inventor.

1TB STATES Patented December 6, 1904:.

THOMAS E. FULGHUM, OF GRAND JUNCTION, COLORADO, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TOALBERT A. lVlILLER, OF GRAND J UNO ION COLORADO.

PROCESS OF PURIFYING WATER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 776,508, datedDecember 6, 1904.

Application filed August 17, 1904. Serial No. 221,106. (No specimens.)

To all whmn it may concern:

Be it known that I, THoMAs E. FULGHUM, a citizen of the United States,residing at Grand Junction, in the county of Mesa and State of Colorado,have invented a new and useful Process of Purifying Water, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved process of purifying water fordomestic and in- I dustrial use, first, by the removal from the water ofthe earth salts, lime, magnesia, &c., rendering it soft, fitting it fordomestic and mechanical purposes, resulting in a saving of .soap whenused for laundry purposes, pre- 5 venting scale in steam-boilers,rendering it healthful for domestic use and more suitable for allmechanical purposes; second, by the removal of the organic matter fromthe water,'thereby sterilizing it to the development of disease-germsand the support of bacterial life; third, by aerating the water, therebycausing the aggregation of the particles in suspension, thus hasteningprecipitation, and by the addition of air rendering the water 2 5 morepalatable by the removal of the flat taste due to the absence ofcarbonic acid.

The process consists in, first, introd ucinga reagentinto the water withslight butsuflicient agitation to cause the necessary aeration to 0cause the absorption of the gases holdingin solution earth salts,such aslime, magnesia, &c.; second, in the addition after a sufiicient periodof an oxidizer in sufiicient quantities and of a character to producecoagulation, the in- 3 5 troduction of the oxidizer being accompaniedwith agitation and aeration, after which the water is allowed to remainstill to clear itself by precipitation or, if desired, by filtration.

The use of the oxidizer, with the addition of air, renders solubleorganic matter insoluble. Also by its reaction with the reagent itcauses the impurities not only to coagulate, but by the mechanicalaction of the air to agglomerate the particles in suspension,

thereby facilitating precipitation.

The principal object of the invention is to enable the purification ofwater to be accomplished easily, quickly, and inexpensively not only ona large scale for industrial and for general supply purposes, but on asmall scale 5 for family use as well.

To enable the invention to be carried practically into effect, I havedevised the simple apparatus which has been shown in the accompanyingdrawings, in which- Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view illustratingan apparatus for carrying out the invention on a large scale forindustrial purposes. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view showing amodified apparatus adapted for family use. Fig. 3 is a longitudinalsectional view of the aerator or agitator. Fig. 4 is a transversesectional view of the latter, taken on the line 4 1 in Fig. 3. Fig. 5 isa transverse sectional view takcn on the line 5 5 in 5 Fig. 3.

Corresponding parts in the several figures are indicated by similarcharacters of reference.

Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawings, 1 des- 7 ignates a tank into whichthe impure water may be introduced through a pipe 2. The tank 1 has aconcave bottom provided with a sludge-pipe3, having a globe-valve 4.From the tank 1, at a point near the bottom of the latter, a pipe 5leads through the outer wall of a pure-water tank 6 to a filter 7,disposed Within said tank, the pipe 5 being provided with a valve 8, Thetank 6 has an outlet 9. Foundations 10 are provided for the two 30tanks, the former of which .is elevated upon legs or supports 11, so asto enable the contents thereof to pass by gravity to the filter in thetank 6. 12 designates an agitator or aerating device which is adapted tobe oper- 5 ated manually, said device including a fun nel-shaped casing13, fixed at the end of a rod or handle 14, said casing being providedat its upper end with a lid 15, having small perforations 16. The lowerend of the casing 13 9 may open, and the casing is preferably providedwith int-eriorlydisposed wings or braces 16.

Referring to Fig. 2 of the drawings, 17 designates a tank having aconcave or funnelshaped bottom 18, from the lower part of which extendsa valved sludge-pipe 19. The

tank is provided just above the bottom with a valved pipe 20, throughwhich pure water may be drawn.

In carrying the invention into effect I first prepare a reagent composedof a saturated solution of sodium bicarbonate, five pounds; sodiumcarbonate, five pounds, and sodium borate, one pound. I dissolve in thisproportion in pure water all that the water Will take up. The water tobe treated is introduced into the tank 1 of Fig. 1 or into the tank 17of Fig. 2, and the reagent is added thereto in the proportion of twentydrops to each gallon of water, the contents of the tank being agitatedwith the device provided for the purpose, so as to cause a thoroughaeration to take place. The water is now permitted to remain at rest fora suflicient period to permit the absorption of the gases holding theearth salts in solution, after which I introduce an oxidizer consistingof a solution of chorid of iron, which may be used in the proportion ofabout six drops to the gallon of water or any sutficient quantities toproduce coagulation, the water being again agitated and aerated. Afterthis the water is permitted to remain still to clear itself byprecipitation, after which the sludge may be drawn off. In the apparatusprovided for domestic purposes the water freed from its impurities maybe drawn off directly from the tank 17, through the pipe 20. In thelarger plant illustrated in Fig. 1 the water Will be caused to passthrough the filter 7 into the storage-tank 6.

Vhile my improved process of purifying water is capable of beingsuccessfully used on a larger scale, I consider it to be of even greaterimportance, owing to the facility with which it may be carried out on asmall scale, for domestic purposes, the time occupied in the treatmentof the water being comparatively trifling and the means required tocarry the process into operation being of the simplest nature.

The chemicals used in carrying out the process are entirely harmless,and the water purified by the improved process is clean and palatable.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is- A process ofpurifying Water which consists in adding thereto in suitable proportionsa reagent consisting of a saturated solution of sodium bicarbonate, fivepounds; sodium carbonate, five pounds; and sodium borate, one pound;agitating and aerating; after a time adding an oxidizer consisting of asolution of chlorid of iron; agitating and aerating; and after settlingremoving the sludge.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto aiiixedmy signature in the presence of two witnesses.

THOMAS E. FULGHUIWI.

\Vitnessesi GEORGE M. J ANES, G. VAN HOVREBEKE.

